2006 Top Selling Turbine: The PC-12?

Every type of general aviation airplane saw increased shipments in 2006, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association report, but the Pilatus PC-12 – now in its 14th year of production — held top honors, according to the Switzerland-based aircraft maker. The company says that this makes it four consecutive years that the PC-12 has won the top spot as the best-selling model of turbine-powered business aircraft. With 90 deliveries last year, the PC-12 turboprop single outsold the Citation XLS and CJ3 business jets, as well as the Grand Caravan turboprop single and midsize Citation Sovereign twinjet. The PC-12 is now seeing its highest production rate to date, even as the “Next Generation” PC-12 (slated for certification at the end of this year) gears up to be delivered.

Every type of general aviation airplane saw increased shipments in 2006, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association report, but the Pilatus PC-12 - now in its 14th year of production -- held top honors, according to the Switzerland-based aircraft maker. The company says that this makes it four consecutive years that the PC-12 has won the top spot as the best-selling model of turbine-powered business aircraft. With 90 deliveries last year, the PC-12 turboprop single outsold the Citation XLS and CJ3 business jets, as well as the Grand Caravan turboprop single and midsize Citation Sovereign twinjet. The PC-12 is now seeing its highest production rate to date, even as the "Next Generation" PC-12 (slated for certification at the end of this year) gears up to be delivered. This latest version will offer a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics package, a new BMW-designed cockpit and more Powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine.